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How Do You Make an Insurance Claim Following an Earthquake?

By TriStar, 9:00 am on February 16, 2017

Due to living in the most seismic region of the United States, California homeowners need to become familiar with the process of filing insurance claims after an earthquake. The staff at Tri-Star Insurance in Vista is here to give you a general idea of the steps you need to take if your home was damaged during an earthquake.

The first thing you should do is to ascertain it is safe for your family to stay in the property. Next, you should contact your Vista home insurance agent, broker, or agency. An agent or representative will interview you to check if you have earthquake coverage and to get a verbal description of the damage.

If the policy is in force and the damage is believed to be covered, the insurance agency will send a claims adjuster to your property. Before the adjuster arrives, you should create a document that logs the date and time of the representatives you contact as well as their names and details of the conversation. If you are using a smartphone or tablet, you should also take photographs of the damage as well as notes. Be sure to do this before you clean up. If aftershocks increase the damage, take more photos and note the time of the seismic movements.

If you make any expenses related to the damage before or after the adjuster arrives to inspect, keep copies of your receipts to include with your claim. Depending on the insurer, the adjuster may provide you with paperwork to start your claim. If this is not the case, you should request the claim forms, which you may be able to access online, from your agent, or from the insurance agency.

In case of major damage, the California Earthquake Authority may announce disaster recovery assistance you could benefit from. Tune in to local television and radio stations or visit the websites of regional newspapers.

To learn more about making a claim following an earthquake, get in touch with American Tri-Star. In addition to homeowners insurance, we are also a leading provider of auto, commercial, health, and RV insurance. Vista residents trust in our coverage. Call 760-758-1600 to find out why.